Question

2. Compare the social evolution theory of social change with the equilibrium model as proposed by Talcott Parsons. Evaluate the relative merits of the two approaches using real world examples of recent and significant social change. (150 word minimum

Answer 1

Social evolution theory of social change suggests that all the societies would start from a low level and would gradually improve their conditions to achieve a higher level in terms of culture, social norms, technology, lifestyle etc. This would mean that people would change along with the changes they undergo in the society in various forms. Equilibrium model as proposed by Talcott Parsons suggests that the society is made-up of independent parts and change at one level would keep going in the society until everyone in the society has adopted to that change. This would mean that the society would take long time to gradually introduce the change in all segments of the society. For example, the US society moved from an agricultural society to the industrialized society and then moved to technological society from the evolutionary point of change while equilibrium would see it in a different way. For example, when mobile phones were introduced, it took time for it to reach everyone in the society.

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